1644

Years:
1641 1642 1643 - 1644 - 1645 1646 1647

Decades:
1610s 1620s 1630s - 1640s - 1650s 1660s 1670s

Centuries:
16th century - 17th century - 18th century

1644 by topic:
Arts and Science
Architecture - Art - Literature - Music - Science
Lists of leaders
Colonial governors - State leaders
Birth and death categories
Births - Deaths
Establishments and disestablishments categories
Establishments - Disestablishments
Works category
Works

1644 (MDCXLIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Monday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar).

[edit] Events

January 26 - At English Civil War Battle of Nantwich the Parliamentarians defeated the Royalists, allowing them to end the six week Siege of Nantwich in Cheshire, England.
February to August - Explorer Abel Tasman's second expedition for the Dutch East India Company maps the north coast of Australia.
March 24 - In England, Roger Williams is granted an official charter for his Rhode Island Colony, allowing the establishment of a general assembly.
April - A popular Chinese rebellion led by Li Zicheng sacks Beijing, prompting Chongzhen, the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty, to commit suicide.
June 6 - The invading Manchu army, with the help of Ming general Wu Sangui, captures Beijing, China. This marks the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (also known as the Manchu Dynasty), the last imperial dynasty of China.
July 2 - Battle of Marston Moor, a crushing victory for the Parliamentary side of the English Civil War, ended Charles I's hold on the north of England.
September 1 - Battle of Tippermuir, Montrose defeats Elcho's Covenanters, reviving Royalist cause in Scotland
September 2 - Second Battle of Lostwithiel, the last major victory for Charles I and the Royalist side in the English Civil War.
September 15 - Pope Innocent X succeeds Pope Urban VIII as the 234th pope.
November 23 - Areopagitica by John Milton is published.
December - Plague breaks out in Edinburgh.
During the English Civil War Prince Rupert and his men took Liverpool Castle which was later reclaimed by Sir John Moore.

The opera Ormindo is first performed in Venice. Music by Francesco Cavalli and libretto by Giovanni Faustini.
Kolumna Zygmunta (Sigismund's Column) erected in Warsaw to commemorate King Sigismund III Vasa, who moved the capital of Poland from Kraków to Warsaw in 1596.
Philosopher René Descartes publishes Principia Philosophiae (Principles of Philosophy).